NEWS: Calder Crossing Approved

Mark McLaughlin
Edinburgh Evening News
February 13, 2009

A SOLUTION is in sight for residents left too terrified to use a series of underpasses beneath a busy dual carriageway.

A new pedestrian crossing is set to be installed on Calder Road as part of a new traffic light-controlled junction leading to Napier University's Sighthill campus now under construction.

It will mean residents will no longer have to risk using the underpasses on Calder Road, which have a long history of muggings, assaults, drug use and anti-social behaviour.

At least 26 serious crimes happened in the space of just three-and-a-half months last year, including assaults on two frail pensioners and a knifepoint robbery on a pregnant mother-of-two. Only a third of these crimes were solved.

As part of the planning application approved by councillors last October, Napier University agreed to pay GBP 150,000 to the city council towards the creation of a new junction between Sighthill Court and Calder Road.

This will allow vehicles approaching from the east to access the campus without needing to use the Bankhead roundabout, which suffers from rush-hour delays.

The junction will also allow buses to travel through both the Napier campus and nearby Stevenson College.

Members of the South West Neighbourhood Partnership heard from Sighthill, Broomhouse and Parkhead Community Council secretary Keith Bell that talks were under way about including a crossing as part of the plans.

Mr Bell said: "Napier University put the proposals for the new junction forward independently but we have been in discussions with them about the pelican crossing as this fits in with our aims to provide an alternative to the underpasses.

"People at the further ends of Calder Road, near the exit to the bypass and close to the prison, already have traffic lights in place that allow them to cross but there is a long middle section where people have no options.

"The people coming from the north of Calder Road to use the Parkhead and Sighthill shops are the ones who suffer the most because they have no option but to use the underpasses or risk their life crossing Calder Road itself, which many choose to do rather than face the underpasses."

He added: "It has never been our intention to close the underpasses as for many people they are a valuable utility, but we feel people should have the choice whether they wish to use them or not."

A city council spokesman confirmed that a new crossing has been approved for the junction.

He added: "There has been a great deal of lobbying from the local neighbourhood partnership and the police for an above-ground crossing for some time."

Local councillor Joanna Coleman said: "The new lights will make crossing safer for students and members of the local community alike."